Colm McEvoy, CEO of Kerry ETB, Aidan O’Mahony and Principal of Kerry College of Further Education, Mary Lucey, at the launch of the college’s 2018/2019 Prospectus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean

KERRY College of Further Education (KCFE) had the official launch of its 2018/19 Prospectus at the College Campus Restaurant on Tuesday, attended by over 40 industry representatives.

Guest of honour to launch the Prospectus was former Kerry GAA star Aidan O’Mahony. The launch came ahead of the college’s open day which take place on Thursday, where potential students can view the prospectus and find out more.

Kerry College of Education (KCFE) is the first and only stand-alone College of Further Education in Kerry offering full-time Post-Leaving Programmes. It offers courses for school-leavers, mature students and those wishing to up-skill and retrain to enable a career change.

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The Prospectus is packed with over 60 one year and two year programmes ranging from Engineering to Art, Science to Construction, Games Development to Professional Cookery, Tourism to Nursing and much more.

The Prospectus itself reflects the new college experience, environment and ethos that is being developed and cultivated by the new Principal Mary Lucey, Deputy Principal Carmel Kelly and her Management Team.

For the 2018/19 academic year, Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) has put together a portfolio of programmes that offer students an opportunity to commence study in practically every career imaginable.

Kerry College of Further Education wants to support and promote Tralee and encourage the leaving certificate students and mature students to stay and study here locally.

Mary Lucey stated; “The new programmes have been designed and developed with input from and through communication with leading experts in particular industry sectors. We welcome input from industry experts and want to ensure that Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) provides a suite of programmes that provides work ready graduates that respond to local and regional industry requirements. Kerry College also ensures that its graduates are fully prepared to successfully undertake a third level course of study.”

Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) have plans to expand a number of departments in the coming academic year.

The College have just installed a new science lab and plans to further expand its science courses on offer.

With the introduction of the GAA Coaching and Sports Development programme headed up by Kerry Manager Jack O’Connor and the Sports Nutrition programme headed up by the Kerry Senior Team Nutritionist Kevin Beasley, and the already very popular Sports and Recreation, the Sports and Nutrition Department will be further expanded through collaborations and engagement with the GAA Kerry County Board.

The Childcare and Education Department has expanded with the introduction of a two new courses.

With a reported 1 out of every 6 first year third level students dropping out of college, due to incorrect choices and being ill-prepared for third level, the introduction of the Pre-University Studies Programme should be a very popular choice with school leavers.

Considering the high percentage of students from Kerry that pursue a career in teaching, Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) have worked on the difficulties that student teachers encounter on teacher training programmes and have introduced a Pre-Teaching and Education Programme to ensure students will have a smooth transition to these courses.

Applications for Kerry College of Further Education (KCFE) are all on-line at www.kerryfe.ie Places will be on a first-come first serve basis but may be confirmed by payment of a €150 registration fee. The prospectus may also be viewed on the website.